German theologian heads doctrinal congregation

Archbishop Gerhard Muller

Pope Benedict has named Archbishop Gerhard Muller of Regensburg, Germany, the new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The 64-year-old expert in dogmatic theology and ecumenism, who has co-authored a work on liberation theology, replaced Cardinal William Levada, who retired at 76.

The archbishop's academic research focuses on "ecumenism, modern age theology, the Christian understanding of revelation, theological hermeneutics and ecclesiology – the priesthood and the diaconate," according to the website of the Diocese of Regensburg.

In 2004, he co-authored a book titled On the Side of the Poor: The Theology of Liberation with Dominican Father Gustavo Gutierrez, who is considered the father of liberation theology.